Let God order your life

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. As you read, I encourage you to add in any reflections or comments you may have.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Saturday, March 6, 2010
Devotions: Ps 23, 27, 75, 76; Gen 43:16-34; 1 Cor 7:10-24; Mk 5:1-20

YHWH is my Shepherd, and I lack nothing: He gives me rest, He restores my soul; He guides me into righteousness for His name’s sake. Though I walk through dark shadows, even the threat of death, I will fear nothing evil, for You, my God, are with me. Your rod and staff reassure me. You make a feast for me, in the face of my enemies; You anoint me with the oil of gladness, with Your own Spirit; my fortunes are a fountain! Surely goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in God’s house forever. YHWH is my Light and my Salvation. No evil can deflect or frighten me while I am in His care. Lord, I ask only for the blessing of living in Your household forever, to see Your beauty and dwell on Your goodness. I offer shouts of thanksgiving, songs of joy to my God. I seek Your face with all my heart, YHWH! Don’t make me depart from You. Teach me Your ways, and guide me along the homeward path. I believe I will see God’s goodness while I live; so I wait in trust, strong and courageous, for God to act according to His will. God is the Judge, and the part of us mortals is to wait upon Him, not to boast or presume upon His goodness. I will rejoice in God forever, as He executes His wise judgment.

When Israel’s sons arrived again in Egypt, this time with their youngest brother Benjamin, Joseph directed his staff to bring the men into his house and prepare a feast for them. They thought they would be punished, and tried to explain themselves to Joseph’s steward. But the official told them not to worry—he had been fully paid, so God must have favored them by restoring the money they had spent. When Joseph arrived, the brothers gave him the gift their father had sent, and Joseph inquired about their father. Then he noticed Benjamin, and blessed him. Joseph had to leave the room, overcome with emotion and about to weep. After crying in private, he composed himself and directed that the meal be served. All noticed that the portion served to Benjamin at the Israelites’ table was five times larger than anyone else’s. And they all drank and celebrated together.

On Christ’s behalf, Paul charged that spouses should not separate; and if they did, either to divorce and remain single, or to recommit to their marriage and remain married. To others, on his own authority, Paul wrote that if believers had unbelieving spouses, they should remain married if both partners were willing—in part because the believer’s consecration is extended to the unbelieving spouse and their children. But if the unbeliever wishes to separate, Paul says, let it be so—there’s no way of knowing if persistence would result in salvation, or not. Let every one lead the life to which the Lord has assigned him and in which God called him. Stay in the circumstances you experienced at the time of God’s call—doing God’s will is what matters most! Trust His wisdom, and abide!

Jesus and His party disembarked into the country of the Gerasenes, east of the Sea of Galilee. There, a man met Jesus. He was possessed by an unclean spirit and lived among the tombs. He was uncontrollable—the Gerasenes could not even bind him with chains. In his demonic strength, the man would wrench chains apart and break fetters in pieces. Night and day, he cried out among the tombs, bruising or cutting himself with stones. Seeing Jesus from afar, he ran to Jesus, prostrated before Him in worship, and shouted, ‘What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure You by God, do not torment me.’ Jesus had already said, ‘Come out of him, you unclean spirit!’ Now Jesus asked him, ‘What is you name?’ The demons replied, ‘My name is Legion, because we are many.’ A great herd of pigs was on a nearby hillside, and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the swine when they left the man. Jesus gave them this permission; the unclean spirits entered the swine, and the entire herd rushed down the steep bank, into the sea, and all were drowned. The herdsmen fled and carried news of the events into the town, and the people hurried out to see for themselves. They came and saw Jesus and the demoniac, now dressed and in his right mind. All this scared the Gerasenes, and they began to beg Jesus to depart from their neighborhood. As Jesus was getting back into his vessel, the man He had delivered begged Him permission to go with Jesus. Instead, Jesus told him, ‘Go home to your friends; tell them how much God has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.’ So the man proclaimed throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.